170 



DIFFERENT SPECIES OF INSECTS 



The constant warmth kept in hot-houses during 

 winter, serves to preserve the succession of various 

 destructive insects from one season to another. 

 I shall here mention the several sorts with which 

 the Vine is liable to be infested, and then pre- 

 scribe the proper methods for destroying or pre- 

 venting them. 



1. The Acarus, commonly called the Red 

 Spider. This species is, doubtless, the most per- 

 nicious ; and as fire-heat greatly encourages its 

 increase, it generally abounds in most hot-houses. 



season of mirth and festivity ; when a fourth, or even a third 

 part of the inhabitants of Fyal remove to Pico with their 

 families, down to their smallest domestic animals. It is affirmed 

 that a quantity of grapes, which would yield three thousand 

 pipes of wine, are eaten at that time ; every person indulging 

 his taste with this delicious fruit, though no people are more 

 sober and frugal at their meals than the Portuguese. Formerly 

 the vintage produced annually 30,000, and sometimes in for- 

 tunate years 37,000 pipes of wine ; but a kind of disease 

 attacked the Vines some years ago, which caused the leaves 

 to drop off at the time when the grapes require to be sheltered 

 from the sun : I suspect this to be caused by some species of 

 insect." Forsters Voyage, vol. ii. p. 597. 



" In Spain, the season of making wine is looked upon as 

 a time of great festivity, and celebrated with rejoicings that 

 border on licentiousness. While the vintage continues, all 

 distinction and respect is forgotten : the owner of the vineyard 

 puts aside his austerity with his cloak, and cries out to his 

 servants, — ' Let us be merry, my companions, wisdom is fled 

 out of the window.' A custom that has been preserved in 

 this country ever since the Romans set footing in it." 



Carter s Journey from Gibraltar to Malaga, vol. ii. p. 397. 



